As soon as we arrived in Athens we were able to take a deep breath and enjoy a much slower, less busy pace. Our hotel is a 5 minute walk from the Larissa Station, an easy connecting point to everything (the metro, out of town trains, the airport and the beaches). After checking into our hotel, we enjoyed an air-conditioned nap after our early start and then headed out to sort out transportation to Istanbul. We learned that there is no longer an overnight train and that due to a transportation strike we would only be able to complete half of the trip in our desired time frame. We also learned the cost of the 19hr train ride was 90 euro per person one way. We quickly rethought that plan and booked ourselves another night in the Novotel and a flight to Istanbul. A 10 minute metro ride landed us just at the base of the Acropolis in the Plaka, a charming all pedestrian area amidst beautiful old buildings, bustling with restauranteurs and shoppers. We wove around the streets in search of the most enticing restaurant. All the menus looking similar, each restaurant with a man outside wooing people into his restaurand, we ended up at a spot where the man boasted of "the only charcoal grill in town, live music, traditional greek recipes and a quiet location." Not too different of a sales pitch to the rest but there was a bar next door that was showing the football and Jij was able to conveniently position himself so he had a glance of the game through dinner...I think that was the real draw to this place! A greek salad, plate of mousakka and mound of lamb chops later we left feeling replete and ready to relax in our nice room.
Athens highlights:
1. Friendly people happy to share their culture.
2. Slow pace of life.
3. The beautiful, quaint and romantic streets of the Plaka and Monastiraki.
4. Acropolis. Perched high above the city, serves of a good reminder of Greek history (and a great view of the city to the ocean when you are there).
5. Food. Gyros, mousakka, pasticcio, greek salad and the rest.
6. Weather. Hot in the afternoons but cooler in the morning and evenings. Always a nice refreshing breeze.
7. Novotel and it's rooftop swimming pool!